Trafficking of Human Beings and the Causes of this Trafficking in Kosovo
Summary: 1. Introduction. – 2. Literature Review. – 3. Dimensions and Trends of Trafficking in Human Beings in Kosovo. – 4. Causes of Human Trafficking in Kosovo. – 5. Kosovo Legal and Institutional Framework against Human Trafficking. – 6. Results and Discussion. – 7. Conclusion.
Background: Human trafficking is a highly harmful and disturbing crime affecting Kosovo and the broader region, posing a serious threat to human rights. The criminal occurrence of human trafficking is often associated with organised criminal groups that operate transnationally, making the combat of this criminal phenomenon a complex and urgent matter.
Methods: This research employs a literature review approach of existing literature, qualitative content analysis of institutional reports, and statistical data. Empirical sources include data from Kosovo national institutions and international organisations such as the U.S. Department of State and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), among others.
Results and Conclusions: Legal reforms have been introduced, including the enactment of the Law on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Protecting Victims of Trafficking, as well as amendments to the Kosovo Criminal Code and the 2022–2026 National Strategy Against Human Trafficking. However, weak institutional capacity and corruption hinder enforcement. The findings demonstrate that human trafficking in Kosovo has an upward trend despite the efforts taken by national institutions. Addressing this requires improved inter-agency coordination, enhanced prosecution, and better victim services.
Abstract
Background: Human trafficking is a highly harmful and disturbing crime affecting Kosovo and the broader region, posing a serious threat to human rights. The criminal occurrence of human trafficking is often associated with organised criminal groups that operate transnationally, making the combat of this criminal phenomenon a complex and urgent matter.
Methods: This research employs a literature review approach of existing literature, qualitative content analysis of institutional reports, and statistical data. Empirical sources include data from Kosovo national institutions and international organisations such as the U.S. Department of State and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), among others.
Results and Conclusions: Legal reforms have been introduced, including the enactment of the Law on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Protecting Victims of Trafficking, as well as amendments to the Kosovo Criminal Code and the 2022–2026 National Strategy Against Human Trafficking. However, weak institutional capacity and corruption hinder enforcement. The findings demonstrate that human trafficking in Kosovo has an upward trend despite the efforts taken by national institutions. Addressing this requires improved inter-agency coordination, enhanced prosecution, and better victim services.
About Authors
Agron Beka*
Dr. Sc., Associate professor, Faculty of Law, University "Isa Boletini" in Mitrovica, Republic of Kosovo
Corresponding author, responsible for conceptualization, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, project administration, supervision, writing – original draft, writing – review & editing.
Agon Beka
LLM, Faculty of Law, The University of Law, United Kingdom, Attorney at Law at BEKA & PARTNERS, Republic of Kosovo
co-author, responsible for conceptualization, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, writing – original draft, writing – review & editing.
Competing interests: No competing interests were disclosed.
Disclaimer: The authors declare that their opinion and views expressed in this manuscript are free of any impact of any organizations.
Copyright: © 2025 Agron Beka and Agon Beka. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
References
1. Abadinsk H, Organized Crime (10th edn, Wadsworth 2013).
2. Albanese JS, ‘The Causes of Organized Crime: Do Criminals Organize Around Opportunities for Crime, or Do Criminal Opportunities Create New Offenders?’ (2000) 16(4) Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice409, doi:10.1177/1043986200016004004.
3. Boskovic G, ‘Types of Money Laundering and Suppression Methods’ (Master's thesis, Police Academy 2003).
4. Calderoni F, Organized Crime Legislation in the European Union: Harmonization and Approximation of Criminal Law, National Legislations and the EU Framework Decision on the Fight Against Organized Crime(Springer 2010) doi:10.1007/978-3-642-04331-4.
5. Galos E and others, Migrant Vulnerability to Human Trafficking and Exploitation: Evidence from the Central and Eastern Mediterranean Migration Routes (IOM 2017).
6. Gashi R, Krimi i Organizuar (Universiteti i Prishtinës 2023).
7. Gruda Z, E Drejta Ndërkombëtare Publike (Universiteti i Prishtinës 2013).
8. Kupatadze A, Organized Crime, Political Transitions and State Formation in Post-Soviet Eurasia(Transnational Crime, Crime Control and Security, Palgrave Macmillan 2012).
9. Latifi V and Demolli H, Kriminalistika: Zbulimi dhe të Provuarit e Krimit (Universiteti i Prishtinës 2019).
10. Marx A and Wouters J, ‘Combating Slavery, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking: Are Current International, European and National Instruments Working?’ (2017) 8(4) Global Policy 495, doi:10.1111/1758-5899.12506.
11. Muco E, ‘Trafficking in Human Beings: Paradigms of a Successful Reintegration into Society (Albanian case)’ (2013) 9(4) European Scientific Journal 92.
12. Podvorica A, ‘International Administration of Kosovo as a Driving Factor in the Appearance of Trafficking in Human Beings’ (2015) 6(2S5) Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences 315, doi:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s5p315.
13. Ramhorst A (ed), Study on Youth Employment in the Western Balkans (2nd edn, Regional Cooperation Council 2021).
14. Suhrke A and others, The Kosovo Refugee Crisis (UNHCR Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit 2020).
15. Tota N, Trafikimi i Qenieve Njerëzore: Aspekte Penale Juridike, Krahasuese dhe Kriminologjike (Studime 28, UET Press 2018).
Reviews for article
Add a Review
Publication history
-
Date of submission: 17 Apr 2025
Date of acceptance: 28 May 2025
Online First publication: 3 Jul 2025
Last Publication: 17 Aug 2025
Whether the manuscript was fast tracked? - No
Number of reviewer report submitted in first round: 2 reports
Number of revision rounds: 1 round with major revisions
Technical tools were used in the editorial process:
Plagiarism checks - Turnitin from iThenticate https://www.turnitin.com/products/ithenticate/
Scholastica for Peer Review https://scholasticahq.com/law-reviews
How to cite it?
-
Beka A and Beka A, ‘Trafficking of Human Beings and the Causes of this Trafficking in
Kosovo’ (2025) 8(3) Access to Justice in Eastern Europe 558-73 <https://doi.org/10.33327/
AJEE-18-8.3-c000112>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33327/AJEE-18-8.3-c000112
Managing editor – Mag. Bohdana Zahrebelna. English Editor – Julie Bold.
Ukrainian language editor: Lilia Hartman.
